Find out practical tips on how to build and maintain a mortality composting site. (Photo: Getty Images, Unsplash)
SOUTHWEST, N.Y. — Cornell Cooperative Extension is partnering with the Cornell Waste Management Institute, Western NY Crop Management, local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and Pro-Dairy to bring an interactive learning tour of an on-farm mortality composting demonstration to farmers and farm service providers. The event is designed to bring practical tips on how to build and maintain a mortality composting site as well as keying folks into local and state regulations. The topics we will be covering include:
- Properly siting and designing a pad
- Selecting the proper materials to construct a bioactive pile
- How to properly add livestock to a pile
- Evaluating pile success
- Identifying common pitfalls to proper composting
- Sharing what financial and technical opportunities are available to help construct and maintain a pile on your farm.
The event will take place at Phillips Family Farm, Inc. in North Collins, NY from 10am – 12pm on Thursday, November 6, 2025. The event is free, and registration is required. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/AnimalComposting2025 or by contacting Kelly Torrey at 585-268-7644 ext 10.
SWNYDLFC is a partnership between Cornell University and the CCE Associations of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Steuben counties. Their team includes Amy Barkley, Livestock Management Specialist and Team Leader (716-640-0844); Kate McDonald Polakiewicz, Farm Business Management Specialist (716-640-0522); Katelyn Miller, Field Crops and Forage Specialist (716-640-2047); and Katie Callero, Dairy Management Specialist (607-422-6788). Cornell is an equal opportunity employer. For more information click here.